Catalina Wine Mix and Mega
Check the comment section for the new version of the team!
(post-Dnite Ban)
IntroductionCheck the comment section for the new version of the team!
(post-Dnite Ban)
I really just made this team to fool around with Pheromosa because that mon was absolutely terrorizing the AAA meta and I wanted to see if it could do the same to MnM…. and it can. I was just testing the team on ladder and only really made one change, and after a while I got the feeling I was doing fairly well, so I checked and I was around 30-0. I decided to shoot for 50-0 before I stopped, and I managed to get it. I haven't ladder since hitting 50-0, I'll probably eventually see how far I can go without losing and update this thread. I have lost a match or two via challenges, though, tbh. This is my best undefeated ladder record with a team, besting my “Ascension” RMT’s ladder beginning record of 36-0 (That team also never lost a competitive game but lol whatever). So let’s get to it.
Recommended music while reading:
Teambuilding
I started with Pheromosa to see how broken it is in MnM (Hint: Very broken). I began with Absolite and a special set to outspeed everything, but then I realized that wasn’t necessary as it can outspeed everything without that much of a boost, so I opted for Lucarionite to hit as hard as possible.
The major threat to Pheromosa is priority spam, and Arceus-Rock is an excellent check to most of the priority in the current meta, as it is heavily centered on Pinsirite. Arc-Rock with Will-o-Wisp and Defog is just an excellent support mon in general.
I then figured, hell why not, and tried another new threat that is wreaking havoc in AAA, Kartana. Boasting a 181 attacking stat, once this thing gets a better speed tier and Tough Claws, it is tough to switch into.
I then added a really amazing balanced core Jordn introduced me to: Blue Orb Golisopod and Primal Groudon. Golisopod is an amazing check to all the PDons, Pdon is PDon, and the combination of dual perma weather is always great to have (PDON)
The team seemed pretty well put together as an offensively-oriented balanced team at this point, so I was stuck on what to add last. The first thing I tried was WoW Lunala, but that was unnecessary in combination with Arc-Rock. I ultimately settled with Xerneas, who’s Z-Geomancy is incredibly broken and beats most teams on matchup alone.
The Team
Syrah (Pheromosa)| Lucarionite | Beast Boost
252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe | Hasty Nature
High Jump Kick | Bug Buzz | Ice Beam | U-turn
The key threat of the team relies on its blazing speed, devastating mixed power, and STAB momentum. It gets surprising OHKOs, and U-Turn deals a solid chunk of damage on any neutral, and even many resisted, hits as you switch out. It outspeeds most of the meta, barring opposing Phero’s with more stones such as Absolite. It’s a great lead due to U-Turn, great midgame due to its momentum, and great end game as a HJK sweeper. It’s a borderline broken mon that is why the team is as good as it is.
Cabernet (Arceus-Rock) | Stone Plate | Multitype
252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe | IVs: 0 Atk | Timid Nature
Will-O-Wisp | Judgment | Defog | Recover
Arceus-Rock’s main job is to check the priority spam that so threatens Pheromosa. Resisting Flying and Fire moves, Rockceus does a great job switching into most offensive threats and can proceed to immediately threaten them with Judgement, or cripple them with Will-o-Wisp. It does live a +1 Earthquake from Dragonite, but a +2 will OHKO with Pinsirite. Thus, it is pivotal that if the opponent has a Dragonite that you have rocks up to break Multiscale, and immediately switch into Rockceus if the opponent brings Dragonite in.
Chardonnay (Kartana) | Metagrossite | Beast Boost
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe | Jolly Nature
Smart Strike | Leaf Blade | Sacred Sword | Swords Dance
Another fast and powerful physical threat, Kartana provides solid synergy with Pheromosa as they can really hurt each other’s checks, especially due to Kartana’s access to Swords Dance. Kartana also has decent physical bulk, allowing it to take a hit from Dragonite’s Extreme Speed to return a damaging Smart Strike. If it outspeeds the rest of your opponent’s team, a +2 Kartana is often the only wincon that you need. Smart Strike and Lead Blade are simply STABs to hit as hard as possible, while Sacred Sword offers coverage, mainly for Steel type foes.
Merlot (Golisopod) | Blue Orb | Emergency Exit
240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe | Adamant Nature
Liquidation | Leech Life | Toxic | Aqua Jet
Jordn introduced the MnM world to this badboy, who is excellently anti-meta. With impressive physical bulk, Bug/Water typing, and Primordial Sea, Golisopod is a great check for Primal Groudon, as well as things like Weavile (especially since opponents fear a bluffed First Impression). Toxic is there to hit Primal Groudons if they end up switching into Golisopod, as PDons hate being poisoned. Liquidation hits ridiculously hard, which makes Golisopod the coveted physical attacker that can take down Blue Orb Skarmory. Liquidation also hits very hard and is extremely useful due to giving Golisopod more HP so it can switch back into a PDon’s EQ/PBlades if needed. Aqua Jet is simply a strong priority move to handle offensive teams better. The speed is to creep other water bugs.
Pinot Grigio (Groudon) | Red Orb | Drought
248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD | Sassy Nature
Stealth Rock | Precipice Blades | Lava Plume | Roar
Primal Groudon is so easy to throw onto any MnM team, as it is objectively the best mon allowed. Nothing tricky here, it’s just the typical support PDon as presented by Uber’s analysis from Gen 6, which you can read here. I will add, though, that PDon has incredible synergy with Golisopod, as dual weather can wall so much of the meta, and the Ground typing prevents any Volt Switch momentum or other Electric attacks that Golisopod fears.
Pinot Noir (Xerneas) | Fairium Z | Fairy Aura
240 HP / 28 Def / 240 SpA | Modest Nature
Geomancy | Moonblast | Aromatherapy / Thunder | Focus Blast
I eventually settled on Xerneas for my last team member, and I haven’t looked back. Fairium Z provides Xerneas with two great options; one, it can use Z-Geomancy to get a +1 in all stats in addition to Geomancy’s typical effect on the second turn, or two, unleash a powerful Twinkle Tackle on a foe you desperately need to take down. Search intently for opportunities to get a Z-Geomancy off, as if you can do this with Xerneas having around 50% health remaining, you will likely win right there. Changing Thunder or Focus Blast to Aromatherapy is an option, as Xerneas is incredibly bulky and some opponents will rely on Toxic or Thunder Wave to defeat it. I would personally recommend switching Thunder if you want Aromatherapy, as Steel types are omnipresent in MnM, and Ho Oh is fairly rare. On second thought, since this team has Rockceus and SR support, I would definitely change Thunder to Aromatherapy, but I didn’t until now so I’ll leave the team as is (hopefully you read this if you want to use the team to its best ability).
Conclusion
This team has fared well throughout the ladder, clearly, and in several challenges and OM Room tours. It should be played aggressively, as most teams will not have an answer for Pheromosa, and if they do, it will not last the consistent offensive pressure put on by Pheromosa, Kartana, and Golisopod. As always, I'm looking for your input and for you to test the team and let me know how it goes. Thanks for reading, and I hope you like the team, it should serve you well.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-505191297 Quantum Tessaract
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-501065863 Grains of Salt
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-504938067 Grains of Salt again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-502585882 Racool
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-503914866 Rosalyn
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-501196116 OM Tour Finals
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-501065863 Grains of Salt
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-504938067 Grains of Salt again
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-502585882 Racool
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-503914866 Rosalyn
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7mixandmegasuspecttest-501196116 OM Tour Finals
Syrah (Pheromosa) @ Lucarionite
Ability: Beast Boost
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Bug Buzz
- Ice Beam
- U-turn
Cabernet (Arceus-Rock) @ Stone Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Judgment
- Defog
- Recover
Chardonnay (Kartana) @ Metagrossite
Ability: Beast Boost
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Smart Strike
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Swords Dance
Merlot (Golisopod) @ Blue Orb
Ability: Emergency Exit
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Leech Life
- Toxic
- Aqua Jet
Pinot Grigio (Groudon) @ Red Orb
Ability: Drought
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Precipice Blades
- Lava Plume
- Roar
Pinot Noir (Xerneas) @ Fairium Z
Ability: Fairy Aura
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 240 HP / 28 Def / 240 SpA
Modest Nature
- Geomancy
- Moonblast
- Thunder
- Focus Blast
Ability: Beast Boost
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Bug Buzz
- Ice Beam
- U-turn
Cabernet (Arceus-Rock) @ Stone Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Judgment
- Defog
- Recover
Chardonnay (Kartana) @ Metagrossite
Ability: Beast Boost
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Smart Strike
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Swords Dance
Merlot (Golisopod) @ Blue Orb
Ability: Emergency Exit
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Leech Life
- Toxic
- Aqua Jet
Pinot Grigio (Groudon) @ Red Orb
Ability: Drought
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Precipice Blades
- Lava Plume
- Roar
Pinot Noir (Xerneas) @ Fairium Z
Ability: Fairy Aura
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 240 HP / 28 Def / 240 SpA
Modest Nature
- Geomancy
- Moonblast
- Thunder
- Focus Blast
MnM People: Jordn and Quantum Tesseract - You two are clearly the best at the meta right now, but it may just be time for me to try to end that :~) But really I definitely stole some teambuilding ideas from you two
OM Auth: The Immortal E4 Flint imas Uselesscrab Ransei Lcass4919 Chloe. Couldn't have fun playing OMs without the homies that run it.
Other people I thought of in the 2 seconds I took to make a shoutout section: Dr. Phd. BJ come back Kl4ng come back Eevee General come back dusk raimon come back Peef Rimgar come back motherlove go away Fardin go away
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